Crews race clock, stretch dollars to get schools ready

Kevin Sweet, left, and Landon Blankenship, both of the paint department on the Marion County School Board, paint in a hallway at East Marion Elementary in Silver Springs on July 18, 2013. Sweet said it would take workers months to completely repaint an entire school. He said that while school is in session he has to work around the kids, who sometimes try to get paint on one another.

Published: Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 5:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 5:16 p.m.

While Marion County School District painters Kevin Sweet and Landon Blankenship finished trim work in the East Marion Elementary cafeteria last week, many of their 123 co-workers were spread out among the county's 50 other schools.

It's summer and time for these employees to finish many minor projects — and some major ones — so schools can open on Aug. 19.

Repairing existing schools is critical because the state has issued very little capital money for new building, and no maintenance dollars.

For the second straight year, the state is not ponying up Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funds. PECO money helps districts repair and replace items at schools and district offices.

The district estimates it will need $276 million to pay for all of its new construction and maintenance projects through 2017-18. Of that total, the district is expecting to get only $22 million — 8 percent — from the state.

The lack of money is a big concern. Until the financial climate improves, the district's maintenance team members under technical services supervisor Mike Howell have to stretch a buck to keep the buildings operational.

Over the summer, some maintenance crews work on routine equipment servicing while others are tapped to perform major air-conditioning system repairs.

Officials such as facilities supervisor Robert Knight say the schools will be ready for opening day.

There are 150 small, medium and large projects to be completed in 28 days, a tall order with a downsized staff.

Before the recession hit in 2007, the district's maintenance staff included 165. By not replacing 40 maintenance employees who have since left, the staff is now at 125, a 25 percent decrease in workforce. Knight said his facilities staff has also dropped by 20 percent.

During that same span, the amount of space that district crews have to maintain has risen by 1 million square feet, Howell said.

The good news is that the additional space takes time to start breaking down. In a few years, when these buildings start aging, then Howell and Knight say the district will have more than it can handle when it comes to repair.

Howell said the most vital summer project is repairing heating and air-conditioning units, some of which are 12 feet wide, 40 feet long and 12 feet high.

It takes a lot of time for the crews to go through these large units, performing tasks like greasing the ball bearings.

“The big things we do are servicing the HVAC units systems,” Howell said, adding that the district is lucky to have so many dedicated people to help them patch things up.

“It is quite stressful that what we do could impact so many people,” said Knight, of the summer push to get schools ready.

Last week, Knight talked to the School Board at a work session. He unveiled the annual five-year work plan for maintenance and facilities. He said the district is expecting funding for only 27 percent of its maintenance projects through 2017-18.

District figures show there is $195.2 million needed for capital, or building, projects for the five-year plan, of which $2.4 million is funded. Maintenance needs are $80.8 million, of which $19.6 million is funded.

Officials said as each day passes, buildings are getting older. And if the district doesn't start getting PECO money from the state for the repairs, the state of the schools will worsen over time.

“We are doing the best we can do with what we have,” Knight said.

Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4013 or joe.callahan@starbanner. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.

<p>While Marion County School District painters Kevin Sweet and Landon Blankenship finished trim work in the East Marion Elementary cafeteria last week, many of their 123 co-workers were spread out among the county's 50 other schools.</p><p>It's summer and time for these employees to finish many minor projects — and some major ones — so schools can open on Aug. 19.</p><p>Repairing existing schools is critical because the state has issued very little capital money for new building, and no maintenance dollars.</p><p>For the second straight year, the state is not ponying up Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) funds. PECO money helps districts repair and replace items at schools and district offices.</p><p>The district estimates it will need $276 million to pay for all of its new construction and maintenance projects through 2017-18. Of that total, the district is expecting to get only $22 million — 8 percent — from the state.</p><p>The lack of money is a big concern. Until the financial climate improves, the district's maintenance team members under technical services supervisor Mike Howell have to stretch a buck to keep the buildings operational.</p><p>Over the summer, some maintenance crews work on routine equipment servicing while others are tapped to perform major air-conditioning system repairs.</p><p>Officials such as facilities supervisor Robert Knight say the schools will be ready for opening day.</p><p>There are 150 small, medium and large projects to be completed in 28 days, a tall order with a downsized staff.</p><p>Before the recession hit in 2007, the district's maintenance staff included 165. By not replacing 40 maintenance employees who have since left, the staff is now at 125, a 25 percent decrease in workforce. Knight said his facilities staff has also dropped by 20 percent.</p><p>During that same span, the amount of space that district crews have to maintain has risen by 1 million square feet, Howell said.</p><p>The good news is that the additional space takes time to start breaking down. In a few years, when these buildings start aging, then Howell and Knight say the district will have more than it can handle when it comes to repair.</p><p>Howell said the most vital summer project is repairing heating and air-conditioning units, some of which are 12 feet wide, 40 feet long and 12 feet high.</p><p>It takes a lot of time for the crews to go through these large units, performing tasks like greasing the ball bearings.</p><p>“The big things we do are servicing the HVAC units systems,” Howell said, adding that the district is lucky to have so many dedicated people to help them patch things up.</p><p>“It is quite stressful that what we do could impact so many people,” said Knight, of the summer push to get schools ready.</p><p>Last week, Knight talked to the School Board at a work session. He unveiled the annual five-year work plan for maintenance and facilities. He said the district is expecting funding for only 27 percent of its maintenance projects through 2017-18.</p><p>District figures show there is $195.2 million needed for capital, or building, projects for the five-year plan, of which $2.4 million is funded. Maintenance needs are $80.8 million, of which $19.6 million is funded.</p><p>Officials said as each day passes, buildings are getting older. And if the district doesn't start getting PECO money from the state for the repairs, the state of the schools will worsen over time.</p><p>“We are doing the best we can do with what we have,” Knight said.</p><p><i>Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4013 or joe.callahan@starbanner. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>